Parker Meyers, above, successfully steals second base in BEA’s game against MCW on May 2.

Trailing 7-2, the Blue Earth Area Buccaneers rallied for five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie Jackson County Central and then scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to triumph over the visiting Huskies 8-7 on Tuesday, May 3.

“It shows what can happen when you stay focused through adversity,” BEA head coach Paul Nienaber said. “It is a good lesson to learn.”

Carson Sturtz scored the winning run after leading off the bottom of the seventh inning with a line drive single to left field. Next, Luke Schonborn laid a bunt down the third baseline. The JCC fielders let it go hoping it would roll foul. But, the ball remained in fair territory to put runners on first and second with zero outs.

Kean Hicks came to the plate intending to lay down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third. However, the bunt by Hicks, which was fielded by the pitcher, was thrown into right field and Sturtz came home with the winning run.

The Bucs had taken a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning at Veterans Field when Hicks walked and Logan O’Hara followed with a line-drive home run to left field.

After facing just six batters through the first two innings, BEA starting pitcher Taylor Davids ran into some trouble in the third inning. A combination of two walks, two singles and two errors allowed the Huskies to push four runs across the plate to take a 4-2 lead over the Bucs.

JCC added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning before Anthony Carr came in to relieve Davids.

Carr had gotten the final out in the Bucs’ win the previous night against Martin County West.

Against the Huskies, Carr would pick up the win by hurling three and one third innings while allowing one run on two hits. He did not issue a walk and struck out three JCC batters.

The Huskies’ only run off Carr came in the top of the sixth inning and gave the visitors a 7-2 lead.

BEA’s big rally in the bottom of the sixth inning began with Luke Schonborn being hit by a pitch with one out.

Schonborn stole second and scored on a single by Kean Hicks. O’Hara was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second.

Nick Barke hit into a fielders choice with O’Hara being forced out at second base and Hicks moving to third.

A single by Adam Schavey scored Hicks with the second run of the inning while Barke advanced to second base.

Colton Hubly was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Parker Meyers laced a triple to the gap between the center fielder and the right fielder to clear the bases and tie the game at 7-7.

Carr set the Huskies down in order in the top of the seventh inning allowing the Bucs to win the game in the bottom of the seventh.

BEA had seven hits during the game. O’Hara was 2-for-2 at the plate with a home run and two runs batted in. Meyers drove in three runs with a triple.

With the win, the Bucs improved their overall record to 4-4.

BEA played host to St. James at Veterans Field on Friday, May 6. Look for results of that game in next week’s edition of the Faribault County Register.

BEA 6, MCW 2

Logan O’Hara came within one out of pitching a complete game and the Blue Earth Area Buccaneers took advantage of nine hit batsmen to defeat the visiting Martin County West Mavericks 6-2 in a non-conference baseball game played on Monday, May 2.

BEA took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Lead-off batter Luke Schonborn was plunked for the first of three times in the game and advanced to second base on a passed ball.

Kean Hicks laid down a perfect bunt which allowed the speedy center fielder to safely reach first base while Schonborn advanced to third base.

Hicks stole second base and the throw from the catcher got away from the shortstop which allowed Schonborn to score while Hicks ended up at third base.

O’Hara hit a long fly ball to the deepest part of the outfield for a sacrifice fly which scored Hicks with the Bucs’ second run of the inning.

After giving up a lead-off double in the top of the second inning, O’Hara struck out the next two Maverick batters and then got the third out on a ground out to first baseman Nick Barke.

BEA added another run in the bottom of the second inning.

Adam Schavey got things going with a single and then the senior stole second base. Schavey came around to score on a line-drive single by Parker Meyers to right field.

The Bucs maintained their 3-0 lead until the top of the fifth inning when the Mavericks scored a single run to make it a 3-1 ballgame.

BEA bounced back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth inning and added another run in the home half of the sixth inning to take a 6-1 lead.

MCW had a runner at second and two outs when O’Hara left the game. Anthony Carr came in and gave up a single to right field which scored one run before catching a pop up to end the game.

O’Hara picks up the win by pitching six and two thirds innings and allowing two earned runs on three hits. He walked four batters and struck out six.

Colton Hubly had two of BEA’s five hits. Hicks, O’Hara and Schavey had one hit apiece.

O’Hara had two runs batted in while Hubly and Meyers each had one.